Rai Sport Director Paolo Petrecca has submitted his resignation to Rai CEO Giampaolo Rossi and will step down at the conclusion of the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Marco Lollobrigida will assume responsibility for Rai Sport on an interim basis. This was announced in a statement by Rai, the state-controlled public broadcaster and the exclusive licensee for radio and television in Italy. Petrecca’s resignation – confirmed by Rai sources – comes after he became embroiled in controversy over mistakes in the commentary of the Milan-Cortina Olympics opening ceremony. The situation escalated when he replaced his colleague Auro Bulbarelli, who had been forced to step down after leaking information about the presence of President Sergio Mattarella. The Rai Sport editorial staff had also threatened industrial action, declaring their readiness to strike at the end of the Games, and a journalists’ strike had been launched in support of the protest. Petrecca had also faced renewed criticism over what was described in the press as his management’s “excessive” spending, which reportedly surged due to hiring, promotions, bonuses, and external consultants following a meeting with the head of personnel.